"Perhaps the most understated reason for Seattle's dominating defense last season, however, was simpler -- the Seahawks were simply tougher and more aggressive than most opponents.

As such, it might feel a bit like a homecoming for rookie Jesse Williams, arguably the most fearsome defender in college football the past two seasons.

Nicknamed "Tha Monstar" at Alabama in part due to his heavily tattooed and massive frame (6-foot-4, 323 pounds), Williams ranked as one of the stouter run defenders in the 2013 draft and was widely viewed as a second-round value"

First year he'll see rotation time and if his knees survive it and he doesn't play badly he'll likely move into the starting line up in 2014... But the main thing is his knees.. 300lb linemen with crap knees are no use to anyone if they're on IR or rehabbing (see Carp). We're lucky we have the depth on the team that we could potentially waste a pick on someone that may only see the field for a few snaps. I'm not expecting anything from him being honest and will be happy if he amounts to anything more than rotation. He has the talent but if 32 teams passed on him multiple times that tells me they know more about the condition of the knees than we will.

SoulfishHawk wrote:He hasn't played a down in the NFL and he's already the next Branch/Thurmond/Tubbs etc.wow

Lol, was just thinking the same thing.

Good grief.

This was in reference to him being a much higher rated player than his actual draft position who fell due to injuries. Nothing more.

Thurmond, maybe. Not Tubbs... he was a 1st round pick.

My concern is that people are going to write him off because he was a 5th round pick, and I hate seeing the name Tubbs mentioned. Let's see how it plays out, I have a lot more faith in this front office to weigh the risk/reward.

Maybe it was all the rumors that he may be just 5'-11", 206 lbs. without all the tattoos? An idea for the SF game: His teammates should put a note in his locker (and sign it: Frank Gore, et al), "The factory in the homeland needs you to report immediately to help identify those bent (damaged) bananas." Then, fans, get your popcorn ready.The season can't get here soon enough. It's going to be a marvelous thing to behold.

Cartire wrote:Here my only question. If he was a second round talent, why did so many teams pass him up? I mean, we waited until the 5th even.

I keep hearing steal of the draft. Is there any source that gives a reason for him slipping as far as he did? Character issues? Is he gonna be a stud, but then murder someone in a few years?

In the article they mention that the 5th round is widely accepted as the round for taking players with injury risks as well as the fact that we moved up to the fourth pick in that round to grab the guy we wanted.I think this is just another example of our FO's draft prowess, recognizing typical draft habits and using them to put themselves in perfect position to get who they want without reaching or overpaying...*swoon*

I don't think he missed much time, if any, from injuries in college. I think the worry is that his knee might potentially be degenerative, which means he might only have a 3-5 year career in the NFL. That really sucks for Williams, as he'll basically be out of the league just in time for his first big contract. Even in that grim scenario, I think Seattle comes out pretty good though. Run defense specialists as good as Williams are a steal in the 5th round, even if he only lasts a few seasons it's basically the equivalent of signing a pretty good NFL free agent for half the vet minimum.

And if he stays healthy and turns into a better version of Red Bryant, then the pick is a home run.

HighlandHawk wrote:First year he'll see rotation time and if his knees survive it and he doesn't play badly he'll likely move into the starting line up in 2014... But the main thing is his knees.. 300lb linemen with crap knees are no use to anyone if they're on IR or rehabbing (see Carp). We're lucky we have the depth on the team that we could potentially waste a pick on someone that may only see the field for a few snaps. I'm not expecting anything from him being honest and will be happy if he amounts to anything more than rotation. He has the talent but if 32 teams passed on him multiple times that tells me they know more about the condition of the knees than we will.

You bet!, hell, they even know way more, and way, way better than Pete Carroll, and John Schneider too, don't they.

kearly wrote:I don't think he missed much time, if any, from injuries in college. I think the worry is that his knee might potentially be degenerative, which means he might only have a 3-5 year career in the NFL. That really sucks for Williams, as he'll basically be out of the league just in time for his first big contract. Even in that grim scenario, I think Seattle comes out pretty good though. Run defense specialists as good as Williams are a steal in the 5th round, even if he only lasts a few seasons it's basically the equivalent of signing a pretty good NFL free agent for half the vet minimum.

And if he stays healthy and turns into a better version of Red Bryant, then the pick is a home run.

I have a good feeling about Jesse Williams. He seems to have a high pain tolerance as evidenced by the fact he returned to the game after sustaining the injury for which he was given his most recent surgery. It could be a chronic condition, but we could have also won the fifth round lottery - again. This kid is one monstrous, tough SOB, and my gut tells me he is going to make us all very, very happy.

Feel free to contact me if you need legal assistance. I have a great lawyer that helped me with an ex who violated my privacy and kept harassing me on MySpace and Facebook. He's very good. And there is legal precedent. - linuxpro

After all we have been through with PCJS, I am ready to fully trust their choice in players. They hit on so many reaches they can afford a miss here and there. These guys built a contender that still hasn't reached it's full potential yet and they did mostly through the draft and timely trades.

Williams is possibly another great steal, but I am willing to predict that he will at least be a serviceable player that contributes at a better than average level. It just seems like the staff can turn anyone they draft into a blue collar player. Williams is no exception to me. Since the Whitehurst trade, they really haven't missed on anything significant.

The only concern I have and I mean only is that Bevell will get cute and pass even though Lynch is gaining yardage. 1/30/2015 - loaf

kearly wrote:I don't think he missed much time, if any, from injuries in college. I think the worry is that his knee might potentially be degenerative, which means he might only have a 3-5 year career in the NFL. That really sucks for Williams, as he'll basically be out of the league just in time for his first big contract. Even in that grim scenario, I think Seattle comes out pretty good though. Run defense specialists as good as Williams are a steal in the 5th round, even if he only lasts a few seasons it's basically the equivalent of signing a pretty good NFL free agent for half the vet minimum.

And if he stays healthy and turns into a better version of Red Bryant, then the pick is a home run.

Agreed. I also think the knee injury is being blown out of proportion. In the 5th round he is an outright steal!

Something tells me he could be Red's full time replacement as our starting 5 tech a year or two, and a damn good one!

kearly wrote:I don't think he missed much time, if any, from injuries in college. I think the worry is that his knee might potentially be degenerative, which means he might only have a 3-5 year career in the NFL. That really sucks for Williams, as he'll basically be out of the league just in time for his first big contract. Even in that grim scenario, I think Seattle comes out pretty good though. Run defense specialists as good as Williams are a steal in the 5th round, even if he only lasts a few seasons it's basically the equivalent of signing a pretty good NFL free agent for half the vet minimum.

And if he stays healthy and turns into a better version of Red Bryant, then the pick is a home run.

Yeah, I don't remember reading he was an injury riddled player. From what I can remember, didn't he hurt his knee in the SEC title game vs Georgia, but came back to finish the game. I think he had an MRI, and was ruled ok.

I think what scared most teams to take a chance was that he did not perform at the combine because of his knee and that sent a red flag to most teams.

Williams however got back to health and performed in some events at his PRODAY... 4.92 Forty, 4.83 20 yd Shuttle, 7.81 3-Cone compared to Star Loutulei who also did not perform at the combine do to medical reasons... 5.41 Forty, 4.63 20 yd Shuttle, 7.79 3-Cone.

I think the Seahawks are monitoring the injury very closely, and they feel good about it enough to allow Williams to compete for the starting 3Tech spot. And from what I've read and heard, Williams has been doing great thus far.

I think there could be a potentially issue as you said, but I think some here are definitely making mountains out of a mole hill.

Seems like the kind of player that will make others around him even better. From his interviews, sounds like a great guy and awesome teammate. His country is proud of him as they should be. Team chemistry is already strong. This guy can only make it better.

TeamoftheCentury wrote:Maybe it was all the rumors that he may be just 5'-11", 206 lbs. without all the tattoos? An idea for the SF game: His teammates should put a note in his locker (and sign it: Frank Gore, et al), "The factory in the homeland needs you to report immediately to help identify those bent (damaged) bananas." Then, fans, get your popcorn ready.The season can't get here soon enough. It's going to be a marvelous thing to behold.

If I were a rookie expected to get playing time on a team this damn good and with this high a ceiling I would do everything possible not to be the weak link, not to be the reason my team loses a game or doesn't meet it's lofty expectations. To fit in on the Seahawks, you really are expected to be ready to excel on Day ONE.

That is the culture of a winning football team.

"Some people here have been groomed to accept mediocrity and lame ducks, I'm on board with the vibrato!" -SouthSoundHawk "BFS is kicking ass in here." -kearly (8/9/2013)

I think Tha Monstar (my adopted rookie) will surprise people with his ability to collapse the pocket and flush out QBs. His role for the Tide was run-stopper, but PC and DQ may get a lot more out of Jesse. If his knees hold up, Tha Monstar will be this year's 5th round steal.

TeamoftheCentury wrote:Maybe it was all the rumors that he may be just 5'-11", 206 lbs. without all the tattoos? An idea for the SF game: His teammates should put a note in his locker (and sign it: Frank Gore, et al), "The factory in the homeland needs you to report immediately to help identify those bent (damaged) bananas." Then, fans, get your popcorn ready.The season can't get here soon enough. It's going to be a marvelous thing to behold.

godawg wrote:I think Tha Monstar (my adopted rookie) will surprise people with his ability to collapse the pocket and flush out QBs. His role for the Tide was run-stopper, but PC and DQ may get a lot more out of Jesse. If his knees hold up, Tha Monstar will be this year's 5th round steal.

Will there BE a pocket with him and Mebane in at the same time? I would love to see that.

I'm an Alabama fan, and have watched this guy grow on a game-by-game basis. No, not even a game-by-game basis, a snap-by-snap basis. This guy is an animal and you guys got an absolute STEAL in the 5th. If we wouldn't have drafted John Jenkins from UGA with our second pick in the 3rd, I would've been highly upset that we passed on Jesse.